江苏省常熟市2020-2021学年高一下学期英语期中考试试卷

    The British Museum, (locate) in the Bloomsbury area of London, is the first national public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture. Its permanent collection numbers some 8 million works, making one of the largest in existence. It has been (wide) sourced, and documenting the story of human culture its beginnings to the present. As with all other national museums in United Kingdom, it charges no admission fee. Its ownership of some of its most famous objects originally came from other countries is controversial, particularly in the case of the Parthenon Marbles. Today the museum no longer houses (collection) of natural history, and the books and manuscripts (手稿) once it (hold) now form part of the independent British Library, it still keeps its universality in collections of artificial works  (represent) the cultures of the world, ancient and modern.

1）倡议的原因和目的；

2）倡议的具体内容；

3）发出倡议。

注意：

1）词数100左右；

2）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：垃圾分类 garbage sorting  区分 differentiate

Dear friends,

……

The Students' Union

Call for entries: young women writers competition

Guardian Weekend magazine is launching a writing competition for UK women aged 16-21 on the theme of conversations.

How to enter

All you have to do is submit a 700-word personal essay that shows off your talents——on the theme of conversations. Did you have an unforgettable conversation with your grandmother about her youth that changed how you viewed her? Do you find having certain conversations really hard, and if so, why? Is there a conversation you regret, or one you regret you never had? We're keen to hear about your personal experiences.

All entries must be sent to weekend@the guardian. com by midnight on 9 March.

The Prizes

There will be one winner and two runners-up. The three winners will each receive £250. The winners will be notified (通知) by email or telephone on or before 30 March 2021 and given details of how to claim their prizes. As part of the editing process, the three winners will participate in a video call with a Guardian Weekend editor to discuss and edit their essay for publication. The one overall winner will also receive a 1-1 work shop with a Guardian editor.

Rules

Follow all rules carefully to prevent disqualification.

■Only one entry is permitted per person. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed.

■The Competition opens at 09:00 on 22 February 2021 and closes at 23:59 on 9 March 2021. Entries received outside this time period will not be considered.

■Your entry must not be copied, and must not contain any third-party materials or content that you do not have permission to use.

■You must include your name, age and contact details, including your email address and phone number.

I rescued my little Foxy several years ago. I wasn't looking for her, but she just crawled (爬) up onto my lap and went to sleep, so I took her home. She spent the night with her head on my pillow, and I knew she belonged to me.

I was her person. She didn't really like other dogs or people until I met my wife-to-be. The day Angelika came over to visit for the first time was the last time Foxy was truly my dog. She abandoned me for the love of a tender (温柔的)woman, and who can blame her? I would have done the same. Then Angelika and I got married, and we became a happy family.

The three of us always walk together through our village from the hills to the lake. We get exercise and have fun because Foxy enjoys her walks and strolls  (漫步)through the neighborhood like a 10-pound prize pony (小马).

How sweet and lovely, you say, but there is dark side to the little furball! Foxy is now a one-woman dog - she has totally bonded with my wife and won't go for a walk at all if Angelika is out. She just lies in her bed by the window waiting for her angel to come walk through the door, and I have to tell you, I feel a little rejected. But it is pretty cute.

I understand animal bonding. My therapy dog, Mercy, was with me for over a decade, and we were a total item. In fact, it wasn't until Mercy died that I decided to remarry. That's how much unconditional love she gave me.

Now my wife is getting to experience that kind of bond for the first time. Young or old, big or little, when your dog finds you, it's an amazing experience, and the love you feel just makes your life sweeter.

When you adopt an animal, remember that it's a lifetime commitment. And if your pet falls for your other half, just enjoy watching the love.

After traveling more than seven months in space, Tianwen 1 is one step closer to Mars! Tianwen 1, China's first Mars probe (探测器), successfully entered Mars orbit in February, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). It will stay in orbit for about three months before landing on the red planet.

A small step on the red planet will be a big step for human beings. Humans have launched 46 Mars exploration missions since October 1960, but only 19 of them have been successful, according to China Daily. It's China's first spacecraft to Mars, and the missions are rather ambitious. Tianwen 1 aims to achieve "orbiting, landing, and roving (环绕，着陆，巡视)" all in one journey, which will make the country the world's first to accomplish all three goals with one probe, mission scientists said. Among the three tasks, touchdown on the red planet is the most difficult. The result mainly depends on the "breathtaking seven minutes," which will deploy multiple cutting-edge technologies and accurate timing of each action, including the burning of engines and opening of parachutes (降落伞)to ensure a safe landing, according to the Global Times. The previous success of Chang'e 5 has accumulated experience in this regard which "boosts our confidence", Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times. Tianwen Vs ultimate goal is to land a rover on Mars in May or June, and it will conduct scientific investigations on Mars' soil, geological (地质学的)structure, environment, atmosphere and water, according to China Daily.

February was Mars month. NASA's Perseverance Rover landed on Mars on Feb 19, and China's Tianwen 1 and United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Hope have arrived within orbit of the red planet. Although they started their Mars journeys at almost the same time, their missions vary. "When we step into the far planets of the solar system, the magnitude (量级)of the resources and timeline required will take a global commitment," US Congressman Frank Lucas said, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in space.

People have many different ways to relax during break time at work or school. Smartphones are probably the number one choice for a quick mental vacation.

Although it might seem like a good time, looking at your cellphone may damage your mental power, according to a recent psychological study from Rutgers University in the United States. For the study, more than 400 students were asked to finish a set of 20 word puzzles. Halfway through the task, the students were divided into three groups. One group was allowed to take a break and use cellphones to buy things online. The second group was asked to have a rest and buy things using a computer. The last group didn't have a break at all.

Interestingly, the group that used their cellphones during the break went back to work feeling the most tired and least motivated to continue. They also had the hardest time solving the remaining word puzzles. The cellphone group took 19 percent longer to finish the rest of the task, and solved 22 percent fewer problems than those in the other break conditions combined.

Terri Kurtzberg, co-author of the study, explained that they assumed looking at cellphones during a break would be no different from any other break—but instead, the phone may cause increasing levels of distractions (分心) that make it difficult to return focused attention to work tasks. "Cellphones may have this effect because even just seeing your phone activates thoughts of checking messages, connecting with people, access to ever-refilling information and more, in ways that are different from how we use other screens like computers, and laptops," Kurtzberg told Science Daily. This is echoed (呼应)by a 2017 study from the US University of Chicago. It found that even if cellphones are turned off or turned face down, their mere presence reduces a person's cognitive capability  (认知能力).

So, during your next break, try putting your smartphone away. Go out for a walk, get to know your classmates or even take a nap. You may be surprised by the result!

In this day and age, digital gadgets（电子设备）have become a significant part of our daily lives. But while gadgets do make people's lives easier, there are things to look out for in using these technologies. One is how gadgets seem to be taking over people's social relationships.

You might have noticed how everyone is engaged in their gadgets during family gatherings or get-togethers with friends. While they are constantly clicking on their portable devices, real conversations are becoming rare..

So if you want to spend quality time with each other, you and your friends and family need to sacrifice screen time.

. When you're hanging out with your friends, make it a policy that all devices should be turned off. Of course, everyone should agree on this beforehand to avoid any misunderstanding.. This could also be a house rule when you have dinner with your family or during any other event with relatives.

Another option could be to turn devices on silent mode, just in case someone is expecting an urgent call or important text. It sounds simple, but turning our eyes away from the screen may be more difficult than you think. And while we may be able to cany on a conversation while playing a game, this multi-tasking is definitely going to cause a loss to the quality of the time we spend with others.

By removing gadgets in the background, you and your friends can focus on what's really important-spending time with each other.

A. Turning off your gadgets is a good first step.

B. They're also driving us away from people around us.

C. People can therefore concentrate on what they are doing.

D. It seems so natural to reach for your phone or device before doing anything.

E. They are used for a variety of tasks, whether it's ordering food or booking a flight.

F. And everyone must be willing to cooperate or else the purpose would be defeated.

G. Thus, the opportunity to strengthen connections might be disappearing.

My mother spent her childhood with her father on their farm in the US. She learned how to mend fences, plow (耕犁)fields, and make cheese. And she learned farm life doesn't offer1rewards, but if you stick with it, the effort and the long days2.

My grandpa spent his later years living on a comer of the farm, named Cherry Ridge, where they3riding horses together every Saturday before he died in 2011. Since that time, the farm has4into Cherry Ridge Therapeutic Learning Programs, a center for learning, horseback riding and companionship.

"I am a ‘road scholar5, learning in an experiential way," Mom told me. "I feel I was5with eyes to see the needs of a (n)6spirit," she added. She has partnered with a7called Working to Empower Students Together (WEST), which helps young people with learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral challenges, or unstable home environments.

Mom's latest project, the Farm Day Grief Camp, was8out of her grieving (悲伤)after the loss of my grandpa.

"I'm an adult woman who lost my dad only six years ago," Mom said. "There is nothing9than nature and animals to help with the10process." The camp's first visitors were five kids mourning (哀悼)the loss of a 7-year-old who died of cancer.11included painting and recalling the child's favorite things and a balloon launch they called "Sentiments to Heaven".

"Each camper wrote one thing they wished they could12with their departed (已故的)loved one on their balloon," Mom said. Children living with physical disabilities are also13at Cherry Ridge. Recently, a student in a wheelchair smiled ear—to—ear as he led the farm's mini horses around.

Mom's vision (设想)14children, ensuring the lessons she learned on the farm will be preserved for years to come. I know my grandpa would be15.